Writer's Message: I changed my 'Author's Note' to 'Writer's Message' because it seems more original.

Anyway, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has read/is reading this! Thank you soooooooooooo much! It means so much, as do reviews and follows/favourites so thank you!

I'm sorry this was a long wait (it seems like forever) but, I want to ask a question: should I start writing another Malec fanfic? I have the basic ideas in my head, I just need a name and to type some up (it's written on paper) I was wondering who would read it…

Also, I combined two chapters here to make it longer, because otherwise it was very short.

Disclaimer: the characters are Cassandra Clare's.

Nevertheless, this chapter's thing is….

Tears are the words the heart can't express – Gerard Way

On with the chapter!

Chapter 13

'Let me in now, or the Angel help you!' The yell shattered the Knight's day of rest, as they continued hammering his door, 'Magnus! Let me in…. Right, that's it! I'll force my way in!' He yawned as he padded to the door and abruptly opened it. Causing the guest, mid-knock to fall forwards into his arms.

'What do you want, Isabelle?' He grumbled as the princess stood up tidied her clothes, rumpled from the fall.

'To speak to you. So let me in.'

'The magic words.'

'Magnus Bane is such a courageous knight and I look up to him and his sequinned battle armour. I also envy his hair that always looks amazing, no matter what.'

'Very good, you may enter. Though please would have e sufficient.' Magnus stepped aside as Isabelle marched inside and straight to his kitchen.

'I'm hungry, please may I have some food?' she called down the hall as Magnus shut the door.

'Sure help yourself!' Magnus called as he entered the kitchen to find Isabelle eating some bread. They sat in silence for five minutes before Magnus broke the silence, 'You wanted to talk to me?'

'Ah, yes.'

'About..?'

'Alec. Clary, maybe Simon. But mostly the ball.'

'The ball?'

'Yes, the ball for Alec and Clary's engagement, tonight.' Her voice was monotone.

'Oh.'

'So…?'

'So..?'

'So, how are we stopping this?' Isabelle slammed her hand on the table, her eyes blazing, voice full of emotion, Magnus marvelled at how she had changed from no emotion to full-on anger, seems to be a Lightwood thing he concluded thinking how similar the girl was to her mother.

'How are we stopping this? Isabelle, we can't. Don't you get it? Since Alec told me a week ago I've wanted nothing more than to stop this, but I can't.'

'The Angel! Why can't you?'

'Because, that would require Alec telling your parents and he doesn't want too.' Magnus's face was stoic but his eyes conveyed the hurt he felt, 'And I'm not pushing him too. Before you start.'

'Oh, Alec can go and grow a pair! He has to tell our parents eventually. Besides Clary doesn't want to marry him either, she's too goo-goo eyes and besotted over Jace. So, she definitely doesn't want to marry Alec. This is why I'm here, because honey, this is heading for an ugly train wreck and I, personally, don't want to see it.' Her un-ladylike behaviour made Magnus laugh and he took another look at the raven-haired girl before him and saw a determined sister ready to defend and save her brother. He smiled, Alec was lucky to have her

'Alec?' Clary knocked gently on her fiancée's door, it was the night of their party. She heard no reply so pushed the door open a little. She saw Alec with a towel around his slim muscled waist, she had to admit he was very attractive when you got past the scowl and icy exterior. That was when she the scars all along his back. They were a range of colours from red to white, but it made Clary want to be sick, not from the scars but at the pain he must have felt to get them.

'Alec!' she burst through the door, he spun around rapidly, eyes wide. On his torso were matching scars, 'Alec what happened?'

'Clary! What the hell?' his face reddened from his anger as he scrambled to cover his chest.

'I knocked, you didn't answer. I didn't mean to intrude.'

'Please, get out!'

'Alec, I'm sorry, I-I… the s-sca-'

'Clary get out please.' Alec's eyes were full of pleading, and she could see how uncomfortable it was for him, so she nodded and turned on her heel and marched away. Wanting badly to forget what she had seen.

It was a little later when Alec had found her again, after he had calmed down, in the library. Sat on one of the chairs and book open in her lap, but she wasn't reading it, too busy staring into the fire, 'I'm sorry,' she said as she lifted her gaze, tears in her emerald eyes.

'It's okay.'

'But, it isn't! The sca-'

'It is, they were from my time with Camille, when I wouldn't cooperate with her demands.'

'Alec, I'm so sorry.'

'Why are you sorry? It wasn't your fault, it was that dragons and I think I got my revenge because now she's dead.'

'It's just awful that you had to go through that.'

'I knew what would happen when I volunteered.' He simply replied, nonchalant, 'But, you can't tell anyone. No one knows.'

'Okay, I promise.' Alec took her hand and helped her out of the chair. She smiled shyly sensing that she shouldn't press further about his scars, but for some reason she couldn't stop thinking about it.

'You look lovely.' Alec complimented her. And she did. She wore an emerald dress with gold lace along the bodice and top of the arms. It was elegant. Her red curls were left natural and cascaded down her back, almost reaching her thin waist. The combination brought out her green eyes.

'Thank you. Izzy helped me. And you look nice too.' She complemented him, the dark blue velvety fabric brought out his blue eyes.

'Thank you, Izzy helped me too. Because, I 'know nothing of fashion' and I'd disgrace you all.' Clary laughed and smiled, 'Ready for the ball?'

'No, but when will we ever be?' was Clary's reply. So, together the left the library, ready to face their engagement party.

Magnus was sat at a table alone, when they entered. First Jace, Isabelle and Max, then King Robert and Queen Maryse along with Queen Jocelyn and King Lucian. And then Alexander and Clarissa. Clary looked lovely in an emerald dress that brought out her eyes and hair, but it was Alec that caught his gaze. The shade of the fabric of his Prince Uniform (A/N: I don't know its name – didn't take History for GCSE) it was a dark blue which made his lighter blue eyes standout and complimented his pale skin and black hair. Magnus tore his gaze from Alec and saw Isabelle looking directly at him, she slightly shook her head, and he sighed theatrically making her smile. It wasn't soon after that she came over.

'Sat moping are we?' Magnus looked at the girl, she wore a long red dress that was surprisingly quite plain, the only detail the gold lace around her chest and top of her arms. Her hair was held up by pins and then curls poured down her back.

'Yes, and you look stunning, Isabelle.' She smiled at the praise.

'I know that! But, that's not why I came over here to this depressing little corner.'

'Thanks, I guess.'

'Ready?'

'Ready for what?'

'To start the plan.'

'Isabelle, it's pointless.' Isabelle was no longer watching Magnus, but watching her brother dance with his fiancée, Magnus watched too.

'Nothing is ever pointless, Magnus, I thought you knew that.'

'So…. Enjoying our ball?' Clary said as they were pushed to the dance floor.

'No. Not at all. How about you?' Alec muttered. The last thing he wanted was to be dancing with Clary, he had seen Magnus sad alone in the corner and he wanted nothing more than to go to him.

'Nada, Negative, Zilch.'

'Well, I suppose they want us to dance.' Alec spoke quietly, looking towards their parents. They took the dancing pose and started to move in time with the music.

'I hate dancing, mainly because I can't.'

'What do you mean you've got to be better than m-'Alec stopped speaking, 'Owww!'

'Oh the Angel! I'm sorry, told you I couldn't dance.' Clary apologised about stepping on his foot, 'I'm a danger to others.'

'It's fine.' The music picked up then and Alec twirled Clary she almost hit another couple who glared at them both, but Clary was laughing too hard to care. They continued the dance and ended up crashing into people and stepping on feet the whole time. It was clear they couldn't dance. Finally the song was over and the pair fled the dance floor laughing, much to everyone else's relief. Alec looked up and saw a pair of golden eyes watching him, Jace's face (A/N: ha-ha that rhymes) was composed and stoic but his eyes couldn't hide the hurt and jealousy he felt. It was then Alec knew for definite that Clary's love was not unrequited, he felt horrible because he hadn't noticed the hurt he was causing his brother being too wrapped up in his own problems. He then thought about the pain he was causing Magnus and then he knew. He knew, he had to tell his parents and stop the marriage before it truly began. There was only way to stop this train wreck.

'What's wrong?' Clary asked when she had stopped laughing, 'You look like someone died.'

'I think I know how to stop this.' He gestured to them.

'The marriage?'

'Yes.'

'Let's do it.'

'Well, it isn't something you can really help with.'

'Nonsense, this is our problem and we are friends, which means we work together.' Alec looked at the tiny girl is disbelief.

'You won't think us friends when you know what I've got to do'

'You're not going to murder me, are you?' He saw the amusement in her jade eyes.

'No, no killing or death is involved for anyone, though I may be disowned. Now, go dance with me brother,' he saw the shock in her eyes, 'I won't tell.'

'Thank you, if you need me come and get me. You know, emotional support and whatnot' ' she started through the crowd before turning back, 'And, Alec, I think I'll surprise you, it cannot be that bad. '

Oh, you wouldn't believe it, was the young prince's thought as he watched the princess disappear into the crowd.

'Izzy.' Isabelle whipped her head around to look for who had called her name, 'Izzy!' the hiss grew louder, 'Isabelle Lightwood look down!' she was surprised to find her brother's head peeking out from under the buffet table.

'Alec? What are you doing?'

'Just get down!'

So stupidly the princess did what her eldest brother said, she crawled under the table – which wasn't easy in that dress.

'What do you want, Alec?'

'Support.'

'What?'

'Support, I'm going to tell our parents. I nee-'

'By. The. Angel! Alec, really?' she waited for a nod of confirmation before continuing, 'No! No, I better stop Magnus!' She began getting out from under the table

'What?' Alec followed his sister, 'What have you planned?'

'Long story, very funny, but not if it happens. He may be a little drunk.'

'Isabelle are you an idiot? What did you say to him?' They were now gliding across the ballroom

'Just, that he may want a drink to relax and that we should commence our plan. Then, he insisted he would do the other plan, I thought I managed to convince him not to but-' She came to an abrupt halt

'But…?'

'He isn't here!' she spun around to face her brother.

'Split up, get Clary and Jace to help too, if you see them.'

'What do I tell them?'

'That he's about to do something foolish and we need to stop him. I will tell them about me and him once we find him.'

'Alec, I just want to say I'm proud of you.' She hugged him quickly, 'Now, let's split up! And find that knight!'

Writer's Message: For those who read only the bottom Notes, then…

I want to ask a question: should I start writing another Malec fanfic? I have the basic ideas.

Let me know what you think of this chapter and the other fic, please!

And, I'll put the links to Clary and Izzy's dresses on my profile.

Thank you my Shadowhunters!